Systems testing

Will there be testing for systems that use the MBI?

We’re planning to test systems that’ll use the MBI, including enhanced integration testing (EIT) for new or high risk systems. We’re not offering end-to-end testing with Medicare fee-for-service claims processing systems because you’ll be able to use either HICNs or MBIs to submit claims during the transition period.

You can use the transition period as a live test and make adjustments as necessary, yet still have claims submitted and processed with HICNs until the transition period ends.

Transition period

We plan to have a transition period where you can use either the HICN or the MBI to exchange data with us. The transition period will begin no earlier than April 1, 2018 and run through December 31, 2019.

During the transition period, we’ll monitor the use of HICNs and MBIs to see how many of you are ready to use only MBIs by January 2020. We’ll also actively monitor the transition and adjustment to the new MBIs to make sure of their wide-spread adoption so Medicare operations aren’t interrupted.

Once the transition period’s over, you’ll still be able to use the HICN for:

Appeals If you’ve used the HICN on a claim, then you can use either the HICN or MBI for that claim’s appeals (and related forms).

Span-date claims Use the HICN for 11X-Inpatient Hospital, 32X-Home Health, and 41X-Religious Non-Medical Health Care Institution claims if the “From Date” is before the end of the transition period (12/31/2019)

Adjustments Use the HICN when you originally submitted a HICN on the claim (Prescription Drug Event, Risk Adjustment and Encounter data, etc.)